U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the United States has full control of the Strait of Hormuz, which is at the center of tensions in the Middle East. Trump said American forces could maintain their presence in the strategic waterway.
In a post on his Truth Social account on Wednesday, Trump said the strait was “under the full control of the United States” and added, “I think we will keep it that way.” Describing the ongoing naval blockade as a “wall of steel,” Trump claimed that Iran could not resist the situation.
Trump makes claims about Iran’s military capacity
Arguing that Iran’s military capacity had been rendered ineffective, Trump claimed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had suffered a heavy blow and that its members had fled.
Trump claimed that Iran’s economy was in collapse and that inflation in the country had reached 300 percent. Arguing that inflation was worsening, Trump accused the Iranian administration of talking too much but taking no action.
Dispute over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz
Tensions in the Middle East have continued since the war by the United States and Israel against Iran began at the end of February. Tehran and Washington have not yet reached a final agreement to end the conflict.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused disruptions in global energy supply chains, while navigation in the strait, one of the world’s most strategic routes for energy supplies and trade, is also among the main topics of the negotiations.
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June to launch negotiations on a final agreement. However, the talks stalled following disagreements over security guarantees and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
